Improvement in percussion-shells



G..- w. GARDNER.

. Shell-Fuse.

No.3 2831- Patented De e. s, 1861.

UNITE STATES PATENT cam.

U. V. GARDNER, OF TROY, NE\V YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PERCUSSiCN-SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,535, dated Dceenilmr 3, lfrCl.

I?) wil whom it W any concern:

Be it known that I, G. WV. GARDNER, of the .city of Troy, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement on Percussion-Shells; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and marks thereon.

The object of my inventionisto so construct a percussion-shell as to allow of its being han dled, transported, and rammed into thegun or mortar with perfect safety, and without the liability of usual percussionshells to explode unexpectedly and causing accidents and cas-- ualties, and at the same time to so construct such shell as to make it an efficient missile, and sure of explosion when intended.

The drawings forming part of this specification illustrate the carrying out of my invention Figure 1 thereof being an interior view of the shell by vertical section, the parts being shown in position for use for charging the gun; Fig. 2 being also a View by vertical section, showing the parts in position for explosion when the shell shall strike an object, and Fig. 3 being a view by transverse section of the hammer, its spring, and its surrounding case when the hammer is on the percussion-cap.

In each of these figures, wherelike parts are shown, like letters and marks are used to in dicate the parts.

The base-plate of the chamber which contains the percussion parts is marked a, and, as is shown, has passing through it the tube b, the upper end of which constitutes the nipple for the percussion-cap c. The cylinder which forms the walls of the percussion-chamher is marked (1. The ring or short cylinder with the flange, which forms the usual end piece of the percussion shell, is marked 0. This ring may be fitted in its place by screwthreads upon it and up on the surface surrounding it, or by being forced in so as to make a tight joint.

In a cylinder, f, which surrounds the nipple-tube is placed the hammer 9, an extensionpiece, h, of which fitting in a recess, 13, constitutes its hinged or turning point. A projecting piece, Fig. 3, j, limits the motion of the hammer, so as to place the hammer over 1 the percussion-cap 0, when the hammer is thrown forward by a flat spring, Z. which spring holds the hammer by the side of the nippletube when the shellis not subject to explosion. Around the cylinder f is another cylinder, "in, the head a of which constitutes the surface struck when the shell hits the object. These two cylinders f and m, I denominate the sleeve force and protector-lock by virtue of the functions performed by them. Around the cylinder f is placed a ring, 0, which binds upon the cylinder sufficiently to act as its means of elevating it, but not sufficiently to prevent the cylinder'm from moving it downward. A helical spring, 1), the upper end of which presses againstthe ring 0, and the lower end resting upon the base-plate a, entirely surrounds cylinder f when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 1, and partially when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 2. The office of this spring 1) is to elevate the cylinders f and on when they are relieved from the pressure and confinement of the fuse-plug (1, which plug may be made of fulminating fuse, or of any substance or material that will have sufficient consistence to hold the cylinders down against the power of the spring p, and be sufficiently combustible to allow of its ignition and displacement by the act of the shells discharge from the gun.

In placing the parts in the percussive-chamber of a charged shell, the percussion-cap having been put upon the nipple, the ring 0 and d the spring 22 are put around cylinder f, and

the hammer g pressed back by the thumb or finger. or some suitable instrument, so that when the button of. the cylinder comes in contact with the base-plate the hammer will rest against the side of the percussion-cap, as is represented by Fig. 1. Oylindern is then put over cylinder f, and as it isforced downward the ring 0 is moved downward and the helical spring p compressed. The fuse-plug'is then forced or fitted within the end piece, 6, and while it is bound therein byits close fitting it holds down the cylinder, this condition being shown fully by Fig. 1. lVhen", the shell is in this conditiomit is ready for use, for handling, or for transportation with perfect safety, as the hammer lies by the side of the percussioncap,which is so protected as not to be subjected to explosion.

lVhen the shell is exposed to l the flame or heat of the powderin its discharge from the gun, the fuse-plug will be ignited and consumed, and the cylinder on (being thus liberated by the pressure and confinement produced by the plug) Will rise, the head of the cylinder m projecting out, as shown by Fig. 2. This rising of the cylinders is produced by the expansion of the spring 2, the binding of the ring 0 on cylinder f, and the binding of the cylinder m on f, together with the action of the spring against the flange of cylinder m through the interposed ring 0, being sufficient for the purpose. As these parts are elevated the hammer g is forced by the spring Z over the percussion-cap, and thus the parts are in condition for exploding the shell when it shall strike an object, as is represented by Fig. 2.

This specificationsigned this 19th day of October, 1861.

G XV. GARDNER.

\Vitnesses:

T. 'l. EVERETT, FRANCIS B. STEVENS. 

